Mass spectrometry is a powerful, widely used analytical technique for identifying and quantifying molecular compounds. But there’s still much more we can learn from each other about how to apply the technique, and how the latest advances in equipment can contribute to advancing, for example, research in life sciences – which is why it is important to share knowledge within the scientific community.
On November 11, 2024, our Danone Research Center in Utrecht was proud to host the Annual Fall Meeting of the Dutch Society for Mass Spectrometry, also known as the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Massaspectrometrie (NVMS). Given how important this analytical technique is to so many achievements in nutritional science at Danone Research & Innovation (R&I), the event was an exciting opportunity to celebrate its capabilities and explore its potential.
What is mass spectrometry and how do we use it?
This instrument is used to identify the presence and quantify the abundance of known molecules within a substance and to determine the exact structure of bio-actives. This facilitates research across a wide range of fields and areas of expertise. “Put simply, a mass spectrometer is like a very accurate weighing scale for molecules,” explains Joost Gouw, Senior Scientist at Danone R&I. “That’s a very useful tool to have available!”
At Danone R&I, the Human Milk Research – Analytical Science (HMR-AS), Quality and Food Safety (QFS), and other analytical teams use this technique to detect and identify food-related biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, oligosaccharides, and metabolites in (pre)clinical and product-related samples.
Using the latest analytical instruments has always allowed scientists at Danone R&I to evolve their understanding of nutrition, enabling breakthroughs and innovations. For example, the identification of long-chain human milk oligosaccharides (lcHMOSs) in breastmilk – a discovery made in 1994 using mass spectrometry – formed the basis for Danone R&I’s work to support infants’ gut microbiota via infant and follow-on (IFFO) milk products using short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS).
Now, advances in equipment and technology are expected to enable further progress. A new, cutting-edge mass spectrometer (MALDI/ESI TIMS TOF MS) was recently installed at the Danone R&I analytical lab in Utrecht. Marko Mank, Senior Team Leader in HMR-AS, is excited about this new tool, which may help the team gain deeper insights about the variety of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), peptides, proteins, and glycoconjugates present in human milk or other matrices.
“This new mass spectrometer will be crucial for our continued efforts in revealing novel functional biomolecules in human milk and beyond,” Marko says. “I’m convinced we’ll be able to translate these insights into novel functional ingredients; for example, to improve infant milk formulations and even adult nutrition. When we look at the possibilities for deciphering the natural composition and functionality of these biomolecules, we see new options on the horizon.”
Sharing knowledge through the NVMS Annual Fall Meeting
The full-day NVMS event at the Danone Research Center was a chance for mass spectrometry experts to connect, share insights, and learn about the latest developments in the field. “Participants gave presentations on the technique and its applications, designed to enhance understanding of the latest advances and unlock potential collaborations and ideas for new projects,” Joost explains.
The HMR-AS team was excited to share updates on their latest innovation in the analytical sciences lab: a new mass spectrometer. “We were happy to showcase our latest work on a new HMOs all-ion fragmentation LC-ESI-IMS-MS method,” says Kelly Dingess, Senior Scientist at Danone R&I. “Using this, we can (semi-)quantify up to 200 HMO structures ranging from DP2 to 13. Thanks to our lead HMOs expert Marko for his key contributions!”
The NVMS meets twice a year and is open to anyone with an interest in mass spectrometry. Having grown out of a discussion group founded 60 years ago, it has since become a society that aims to bring together scientists working in various fields and to promote interactions between members from academia and industry, members from different disciplines, and between newcomers and established mass spectrometrists.
“It’s a real honor for Danone R&I to be selected to host the 2024 fall meeting,” says Joost, who co-hosted the event with Eef Dirksen and Guinevere Lageveen-Kammeijer. “We welcome the opportunity to connect with others in the scientific community so we can share and identify new ways to unlock the full potential of mass spectrometry. In turn, we can accelerate our nutritional science research and keep delivering innovative solutions that support the health of people of every age, everywhere!”
Further details are available on the NVMS website.
